Charging calls from mobiles to freephone & local rate numbers | ACMA

Charging calls from mobiles to freephone & local rate numbers

Issue for comment 51/2012 - 20 December 2012

Submissions received

The ACMA received 14 submissions to its discussion paper 'Proposed changes to charging arrangements for calls from mobile phones to freephone and local rate numbers.' The submissions are available below.

Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN)

Australian Phone Word Association

Communications Alliance / AMTA

Consumer Action Law Centre

David J Hillman

David Talbot

Friends of the ABC Vic

Karl Williams

Optus

Roger Farrer

Steven Spink

Taxi 131008 Ltd

Telstra

Turning Point Alcohol & Drug Centre

Background

The ACMA is consulting on methods to address consumer issues around the cost of calls from mobile phones to freephone (1800) and local rate (13/1300) numbers.

The ACMA released a discussion paper (available in both Word (.docx 207 kb) and PDF (373 kb) ) seeking comment on two proposals intended to achieve the following objectives:

to make calls from mobile phones to freephone (1800) numbers free;

to make calls from mobile phones to local rate numbers (13/1300) numbers cost no more than a caller would pay for a local call from a fixed telephone; and

for these changes to be in effect by 1 January 2015.

Both proposals would see a variation of the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 1997 (the Numbering Plan) to ensure that calls from mobile phones to freephone (1800) numbers would be free.

One option would vary the Numbering Plan to limit the cost of calls to local rate (13/1300) numbers. The other option involves a range of industry initiatives that would see the development and promotion of mobile phone service plans in which the cost of calls to local rate numbers would be incorporated into the included value allowances of those plans.

The ACMA is also seeking comment on any other approaches which may achieve the ACMA's objectives.

Making submissions

The ACMA invited written submissions on the matters discussed in this paper.

Effective consultation

The ACMA is working to enhance the effectiveness of its stakeholder consultation processes, which are an important source of evidence for its regulatory development activities. To assist stakeholders in formulating submissions to its formal written consultation processes, it has developed Effective consultation: A guide to making a submission. This guide provides information about the ACMA's formal written public consultation processes and practical guidance on how to make a submission.

Publication of submissions

In general, the ACMA publishes all submissions it receives.

The ACMA prefers to receive submissions that are not claimed to be confidential. However, the ACMA accepts that a submitter may sometimes wish to provide particular information in confidence. In these circumstances, submitters are asked to identify the material over which confidentiality is claimed and provide a written explanation for the claim.

The ACMA will consider each confidentiality claim on a case-by-case basis. If the ACMA accepts a claim, it will not publish the confidential information unless authorised or required by law to do so.

Release of submissions where authorised or required by law

Any submissions provided to the ACMA may be released under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (unless an exemption applies) or shared with other Commonwealth Government agencies and other parties under Part 7A of the Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005. The ACMA may also be required to release submissions for other reasons including for the purpose of parliamentary processes or where otherwise required by law (for example, under a court subpoena). While the ACMA seeks to consult submitters of confidential information before that information is provided to another party, the ACMA cannot guarantee that confidential information will not be released through these or other legal means.